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David Zalubowski/APFord Escape SUVs at a Ford dealership in Denver in 2010.
DETROIT -- Ford (F) is recalling 1.4 million SUVs and cars in North America to fix steering, rust and floor mat problems.

The recalls come as automobile safety is being watched closely by Congress, the Justice Department and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All are investigating General Motors' (GM) delayed recall of small cars for ignition switch problems. Also, Justice recently made Toyota pay a $1.2 billion penalty for hiding information from government safety regulators.

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In the largest of the Ford recalls Thursday, the company is calling back 915,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs to fix a problem with a torque sensor within the steering column. The problem could cause loss of power-assisted steering, making the SUVs more difficult to control and increasing the risk of a crash, Ford says.

The company recommends one of three fixes: replacing the sensor, updating software or replacing the steering column. The recall affects model year 2008 through 2011 vehicles built between Aug. 18, 2006 and Sept. 11, 2010.

Another recall covers 196,000 Ford Explorer SUVs from the 2011 through 2013 model years. An electrical problem in a steering gear can knock out power steering. Dealers will either update software or replace the steering gear.

Ford also issued two additional recalls Thursday:

More than 196,600 Taurus sedans from the 2010 through 2014 model years. They can rust around the license plate light, which can cause a short circuit and fire. The cars were sold in 20 states and Washington, D.C., where salt is used to clear roads of snow and ice.

About 82,500 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and Lincoln MKZ cars from the 2006 through 2011 model years. Floor mats in some cars could come in contact with the gas pedal if improperly installed. Dealers will replace the mats.

Karl Brauer, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book, said the recalls could be caused by heightened concern by automakers because of the GM and Toyota cases.

"I do think manufacturers are more willing to issue a recall at this point because their sheer number in recent months has become a sort of background white noise for consumers," he said in a statement.

But Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker said Thursday's recalls are just part of the company's normal recall process.

Car dealerships, unlike many other retailers, expect you to haggle. It's built into their price tags. So if you pay the sticker price for any new or used vehicle, basically ever, you're getting hoodwinked. When you walk into a dealership, prepare to haggle over just about everything -- the trade-in value of your car, the price of the car and extras like warranties. You'll have more leverage if you have more cash, but even cash-strapped buyers can and should negotiate.

Real estate agents expect some negotiation. But when buying a home, negotiation doesn't have to be all about price. If the seller isn't willing to come down on the price, ask for extras. For instance, ask that the seller pay more closing costs (which basically amounts to a cheaper deal for you). Or ask that the seller take care of some maintenance issues you found when you had the home inspected.

Mortgage companies will quote you a rate when you ask, but that doesn't mean you need to stick to that rate. If your credit is good (find out if it is, first) or you have a big down payment, you have plenty of leverage to negotiate a lower rate. And if you can't straight-up negotiate for a lower rate, you may be able to save by paying for points. This basically means you put more cash down for a lower rate, and, in some cases, it can save you a lot of money.

If you're renting from a landlord for the first time, rent may not be as negotiable. But if you're getting ready to renew your lease, don't just accept the now-higher rental price you're quoted. Keep in mind that it's a pain for rental companies and landlords to get you moved out, prep the property and move someone new in. Unless you're living in the hottest area in town, they'll likely lose money looking for a new renter. This means they may be more willing than you'd think to negotiate pricing.

Insurance companies usually get special rates from doctors' offices and hospitals. But those rates don't automatically apply to uninsured individuals -- or those who haven't yet hit their deductibles. If a medical bill isn't going through your insurance company, negotiate it. Often times, the doctor's office or hospital will come down on the price, so that it's closer to (or if you're lucky, even less than) what your insurer might pay.

If you're in good standing on your credit card account, you have plenty of negotiating power. You can negotiate lower rates, annual fees and higher credit limits. Even if you aren't in good standing, credit card companies can help you come up with a payment plan if you can't afford the minimum payments. You just need to ask.

When hiring someone to maintain your lawn, re-roof your home or pop out a dormer window on your second story, always get at least three quotes. And once you have those quotes, negotiate for a better price or a better deal. As with buying a home, you don't just have to negotiate for a lower price. Some service providers and contractors won't bring down the price, but they will often add in extra services for the same price -- or at least for a discount.

If you've recently gotten away from your cable or Internet company's promotional pricing, you may be in for a shock. Most of us fail to read the fine print that says just how much the service will cost after the promotional period. Before you call the company, look at the promotional offers other services in town are offering. Then, tell them you're considering switching so you can get a better deal. You may not talk them all the way back down to the promo price, but you can get pretty close.

Any time you buy big-ticket items like furniture or appliances, you should negotiate the price. This is especially true if you're buying in quantity -- for example, if you're purchasing both a washer and a dryer or an entire living room set. If the salesperson won't negotiate with you, ask to talk to the manager.

As with credit card companies, if you're in good standing with your insurance company, you may be able to negotiate for better rates. At minimum, you should ask about bundling your insurance policies to see how much that could save you. And if you notice your insurance company is running a new promotional deal that you're not in on, ask about it. The company may sign you up just for asking.

Collections calls are never fun, but they can be productive if you look at them the right way. Once an account of yours has gone to collections, that means the company has paid pennies on the dollar for the account. In other words, your $5,000 debt may have cost them $200 to take over from the original company. So a collections company may accept $1,000 for a $5,000 debt -- or possibly even less.

Whether you're shopping at a thrift store or a garage sale, you should always negotiate the price of used stuff. You can usually buy two or three things at once to get a better deal, or just negotiate for a better price on a single, bigger-ticket item.

FORD means Freaking Owner Real Dumb..my buddy Gary's own words..its not the unions, they actually increase the quality by wanting to be professionals and wanting fair wages..a organized workforce, what a concept..lol. now that doesnt take a genius to figure out..

FORD means ******* Owner Real Dumb..my buddy Gary's own words..its not the unions, they actually increase the quality by wanting to be professionals and wanting fair wages..a organized workforce, what a concept..lol

Oh good the auto companys have now signed on to the democrat assumption theorys...you know the words democrats use 24/7 quite well and effectivily.. words like could, might.. or possibly could.. or may fail.. or the oceans will rise three feet by so and so date these words are there lives..so lets recall over a million vehicles simply on assumption theorys...Makes sence to me....